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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Age of Vicarious

The hardest question raised by Board members is, “How do we
get people involved in our community?”
Requests for volunteers often fall on deaf ears: a scary and frustrating experience for the same
few stepping up for the community.

One defining aspect of humanity is
its need for connections. Whether with
tales told around the campfire or epitaphs carved in stone, people link
themselves with events outside the space they inhabit. Electronic communication and social media
accentuate this immersion, ranging from “reality” TV shows, political radio,
sports events, to any number of educational programs. Vicarious living can consume a person’s time
and alienate others, crowding out personal and regular interactions with one’s
neighbors.

Breaching this barrier is a must for creating healthy
community associations. While written communications
are a great tool, the Board of Directors must guard against a “means” becoming an
“end”. A Board can issue newsletters and
emails detailing plans and goals, but sharing the same information at a
personal level in an informal setting is far more effective in making it
“real”, fostering a positive environment for neighbors to adjust their views.

The only step to growing healthy volunteerism is frequent
social gatherings. More meals together
create space to form common goals with your neighbors. Communities hosting events every two or three
months for two or three years see higher committee involvement rates and lower
levels of animosity: Trust comes with
time.

The key is persistence.
A Board that humanizes itself to the membership, creating a compelling
narrative for connection, will see community involvement flourish.

1 comment:

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